🚨 These 5 US Airlines Are Most Likely To Have Regular Flight Delays

Flying in 2025? Buckle up—because not all airlines are created equal when it comes to getting you to your destination on time. Based on U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) data from March to October 2025, we’ve identified the five carriers most likely to leave you staring at that dreaded “delayed” status on the airport screen.

The Numbers Don’t Lie: On-Time Performance Breakdown

Before we dive into the worst offenders, let’s establish what we’re measuring. We analyzed the percentage of delayed flights versus total scheduled flights for each carrier, focusing on arrivals delayed by 15 minutes or more. This methodology provides a fair comparison across airlines of different sizes.

🏆 The Bottom Five: Who’s Most Likely to Make You Wait

5. Southwest Airlines (22.14% delayed)

With nearly 1 million scheduled flights, Southwest has the highest absolute number of delays at 211,262. However, its cancellation rate remains impressively low at just 0.59%. The Dallas-based carrier continues to pioneer the low-cost model, offering Wi-Fi for $8 per device—a small comfort during those inevitable delays.

4. Allegiant Air (24.40% delayed)

Despite operating the second-fewest flights among major carriers (91,015), Allegiant still managed a quarter of its flights arriving late. The silver lining? Their cancellation rate is the best at just 0.26%. If you’re hunting for rock-bottom fares, Allegiant delivers—but be prepared for potential delays without compensation.

3. American Airlines (24.45% delayed)

American operates the most flights in our dataset (1,363,530) and consequently has the highest absolute number of delays at 333,396. They also lead in cancellations at 2.07%. However, American is testing AI technology to hold connecting flights for delayed passengers—a potentially game-changing approach to minimize passenger disruption.

2. JetBlue (24.52% delayed)

JetBlue’s 100% Airbus fleet faced significant challenges in 2025, including an emergency software update affecting A320 family aircraft after a rapid descent incident. With 38,117 delayed flights out of 155,432 scheduled, they narrowly edge out American. Their cancellation rate sits at 1.21%.

1. Frontier Airlines (28% delayed)

The undisputed champion of delays, Frontier sees more than one in four flights arrive late. With 37,329 delays out of 133,328 total flights, they also rank second in cancellations at 1.58%. If you’re flying Frontier, prepare for potential headaches—they explicitly state they don’t offer reimbursements, hotel accommodations, or monetary compensation for delays.

What Airlines Owe You (And What They Don’t)

Here’s the harsh reality: weather delays, air traffic control issues, and security concerns are considered “uncontrollable” by all airlines, meaning you’re entitled to nothing beyond rebooking. However, “controllable” delays—like mechanical issues or crew scheduling problems—trigger varying compensation policies:

• American Airlines: Hotel vouchers and meal vouchers for delays over 3 hours
• JetBlue: Fee waivers for delays over 3 hours (domestic) or 6 hours (international)
• Frontier & Allegiant: No compensation except rebooking; consider travel insurance

The Bigger Picture: Why Delays Are Getting Worse

The airline industry is facing unprecedented challenges in 2025. Major carriers are lobbying the DOT to stop publishing performance statistics, and deregulation efforts could make flying significantly worse for everyone. Technical issues, crew shortages, and increasingly complex airspace management continue to plague operations.

Pro Tips for Delayed Flights

• Track your rights: Know the difference between controllable and uncontrollable delays
• Consider travel insurance: Especially valuable for low-cost carriers like Frontier and Allegiant
• Download airline apps: Many now offer real-time updates and rebooking options
• Build buffer time: Especially crucial for connecting flights on delay-prone airlines

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